Federal election 2022: PM's bombshell election day revelation on people smugglers

Scott Morrison has confirmed a vessel has been intercepted after an alleged attempt to illegally enter Australia as Anthony Albanese reflected on former prime minister Gough Whitlam leading Labor to victory in 1972.

Madura McCormack, Courtney Gould, Clare Armstrong, Ashleigh Gleeson, Anton Nilsson and Catie McLeod

5 min read

May 21, 2022 - 3:13PM

News Corp Australia Network

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed a vessel has been intercepted after an alleged attempt to illegally enter Australia from Sri Lanka.

In a bombshell Election Day revelation, Mr Morrison confirmed— in the spirit of “full transparency”— that the boat had been intercepted by authorities.

He used the confirmation as a segue to ram home the Coalition’s rhetoric that it is the party best prepared to keep people smugglers at bay.

“That vessel has been intercepted in accordance with the policies of the government and and they're following those normal protocols,” Mr Morrison said.

“In the interest of full transparency in the middle of an election campaign, the Labor Party was advised of this and a statement has been issued by the border protection authorities to talk about that as well.”

This is understood to be the first boat intercepted in Australia’s waters since 2014.

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A total of 15 people were on the vessel, which almost landed on Christmas Island.

The boat approached from the western side of the island.

The people on the boat are being processed by authorities.

Sri Lanka Navy managed to apprehend 40 individuals who attempted to illegally migrate to a foreign country by sea, during a patrol conducted in seas off Batticaloa and in a special operation in the beach area of Kalawanchikudi, Batticaloa on 18th May 2022. Picture: The Sri Lanka Navy

Operation Sovereign Borders head Rear Admiral Justin Jones, in a statement, said the government’s policy remained “unchanged”

“We will intercept any vessel seeking to reach Australia illegally and to safely return those on board to their point of departure or country of origin,” he said.

“Measures and safeguards are in place to enable actions and activities to be undertaken in accordance with Australian domestic law and Australia’s obligations under international law.

“The overriding priority for all agencies involved in Operation Sovereign Borders is the safety of all persons involved, including potential illegal immigrants and vessel crews as well as Australian personnel.”

Opposition Home Affairs spokesman Kristina Keneally said Labor supported “Operation Sovereign Borders – offshore processing, regional resettlement, and boat turn-backs where safe to do so.”

“The people smuggling trade is vile and risks the lives of the people at sea,” she said.

“To be clear – if you attempt to come to Australia by boat you will not make it and you will be turned around, or sent to Nauru.

“Labor thanks the Operation Sovereign Borders Joint Agency Task Force for their continued work at keeping our borders secure.”

The people smuggling boat was intercepted.

Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese reflected on the day former prime minister Gough Whitlam led Labor to a historic victory in 1972.

The modern-day Labor leader spoke to journalists outside a polling booth in Marrickville in Sydney's inner west on Saturday afternoon shortly after casting his own vote.

Mr Albanese could tonight become just the fourth Labor leader in about 80 years to win government from opposition.

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese arrives at Marrickville Library in the seat of Barton with partner Jodie Haydon and son Nathan to cast his vote on Election Day. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Asked how much that sense of history was weighing on his mind, Mr Albanese said he felt a great sense of responsibility.

"I remember as a very young boy when Gough Whitlam won in '72. I just remember my mum telling me that our team had won," he said.

"It was a bit like the '71 grand final when our other team won against St George when Souths won.

"I grew up with a passion for Labor. My mum was a rank-and-file member."

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Mr Albanese declared he would represent all Australians as prime minister regardless of whether they vote for him.

Earlier, Mr Morrison handed out how-to-vote cards in the Victorian seat of McEwen while his wife Jenny received a stems of eucalyptus leaves from traditional elder Ian Hunter, who played the didgeridoo as the pair walked towards the polling booth entrance.

The PM was heckled by minor party supporters, who yelled out “don’t sign the WHO pandemic treaty”.

“Keep our bodies away from the WHO,” one UAP supporter shouted. Mr Morrison was quick to reply “we’re not”. “That’s a complete lie,” Mr Morrison said.

“You’re just making stuff up.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was surrounded when he voted in Cronulla. Picture: Jason Edwards

One Greens supporter also yelled about bushfire survivors saying some were still without houses. One couple that walked past didn’t appear to notice it was the Prime Minister, taking his flyer and walking inside.

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The back of the how to vote cards were red with bold font stating: “Send Daniel Andrews a message! Put Labor last

Meanwhile, a $10 "gourmet democracy sausage" has become a talking point in Anthony Albanese's electorate.

A standard democracy sausage was priced at $5 in the electorate of Grayndler in Sydney's inner west but for an extra $5 voters had the choice of onions.

Scott Morrison's wife Jenny and daughters Abbey and Lily today. Picture: Jason Edwards

Nine reporter Chris O'Keefe tweeted the picture of a chalkboard advertising the sausage sizzle.

"It's capitalist sausage time in the communist stronghold of Grayndlr," O'Keefe joked.

It comes as Mr Albanese spruiked an election campaign to ease the cost of living pressures and increase wages for Australians.

Mr Albanese himself was spotted in the Victorian marginal seat of Chisholm, where the Opposition leader hopes Labor can snatch votes from the Liberals.

Earlier, the Labor leader said he would negotiate with independents to form government.

Mr Albanese is hoping to capture enough seats to form a majority government.

"My objective is to get 76 seats, at least, in the House of Representatives, that's what I've been focusing on, providing the security of a majority Labor government," he said on Saturday morning.

"I'll work with people across the parliament, that's the nature of the way I do politics," Mr Albanese said."I want to make sure that wherever possible, we look for consensus."

Mr Morrison told morning radio he wasn't a betting man but said he knew other people who bet on him in the last federal election that "were pretty happy" with their winnings.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with wife Jenny Morrison as they vote in the Prime Minister Scott Morrison's electorate of Cook At Lilly Pilly public school Cronulla Sydney, NSW. Picture: Jason Edwards

"I've never taken anything for granted in life and in politics... I know this is an important decision that Australians are making.

"I've seen this week people in the Labor Party... saying which public servants they're going to get sacked and who they are going to swear in on what day and all these sorts of things.

"Even where Anthony's dog's going to live. You can't get ahead of yourself. "I don't think Australians appreciate that.

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